Paradox Lost

Title:  Paradox Lost

Author:  Libby Drew

Publisher:  Carina Press

Length:  228 pages

Rating:  B+

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  Time travel tour guide Reegan McNamara’s job—taking eager tourists whenever they want to go—is usually a breeze. A trip back to 2020 to watch a world-changing speech seems no different, until a woman runs away from his tour group before the jump home. Now her tycoon husband is demanding her safe return—or Reegan will lose more than just his job.

PI Saul Kildare’s business is running on borrowed time. Due to a messy break with the police, he can’t get a referral to save his life. When an enigmatic stranger bangs on his door one night and promises a windfall for a missing-person case, it seems too good to be true. But the two men have an immediate connection, and Saul can’t pass up the chance to spend more time with Reegan, even if he is clearly hiding something.

Saul knows he shouldn’t trust Reegan, and Reegan knows he can’t get involved with Saul. But as their attraction evolves into feelings neither can deny, will they have the strength to take a leap of faith – together?

Review:  I liked this story so much!  It was a lot of fun.  It was sexy and sweet.  It was romantic and had elements of tragedy.  There were so many layers and really important things that matter.  When I started this book I was thinking it would be a fun read, easy and cute.  It was, but it was also a really good story with compelling characters and social and moral elements.

Saul was a fantastic hero.  There was never any doubt that he would do the right thing, that he would not falter from fear or self preservation.  He was flawed and hurting.  He was damaged and haunted.  He struggled intensely with the guilt of past mistakes and the self doubt that comes from being betrayed by people that should have had his back.  He could kick some serious ass and had the background to know how to get them out of all the dangerous situations they kept finding themselves in.  He was loyal, brave, honest and true.  He was funny and sweet and very sexy.  He was awesome.

Reegan was a delight.  He was an experienced guide and knew his history, he even had the doctorate to prove it.  He was funny and sexy.  He was brave, resourceful and able to think fast on his feet.  His enjoyment of the past and all of its wonders and mysteries was a kick.  Watching him try to interact with the tech of 2020 and his cluelessness was funny and endearing.  He was so much fun and a truly sweet and caring man.

Their connection was pretty immediate and the heat between them was irresistible.  While things moved swiftly with the emotions coming fast, their situation was intense and their time together short, it made sense that their relationship would progress rapidly as well.  They were very sexy together, passionate, intense and emotional.  I loved the way they were together.  They enjoyed each other on pretty much every level possible and their interactions are sweet and funny.

The time travel and futuristic worlds were very well done.  I really liked that there was a plausible (I have no idea, obviously, how accurate the science of the ideas were) logic and science to the time travel and its rules.  It created a scenario and structure to the storyline that was exciting and felt realistic.  The fact that it was set a little and then a lot into the future allowed for some familiarity but also possibility.  It was very well done.

This is primarily Reegan and Saul’s story but the people that filled their lives and helped to create both the support and danger to their worlds was fantastic.  Their friends and family as well as the bad guys and bureaucrats and scientists added to the story and brought things together nicely.

I loved this story.  It is a great romantic adventure and a ton of fun.  I highly recommend it.  I enjoyed it tremendously and think most of you will as well.  Can I mention the awesome cover? Gorgeous!

 

****Content Warning That Contains Spoilers****

One character is an alcoholic who is struggling to stay sober, that struggle is felt intensely at times.  There are themes of domestic abuse and one character is in a dangerously abusive relationship.  It was all done very well and this is a great story.

 

Reviewed by Nina